Supply Chain Educators, Professionals Converge at Bauer Conference

Published on June 6, 2014

Students, faculty and supply chain industry leaders had the opportunity to listen to panel discussions and network during the Bauer Supply Chain Center Conference in May. See more photos from the event.

Connection was the focus of the Bauer Supply Chain Center Spring Conference in May, which brought together professionals, faculty and students from an industry that has seen significant sustained growth in the last decade.

The first half of the daylong conference focused on giving top MBA, undergraduate and Bauer Honors students the opportunity to connect with recruiters during an industry/student forum and speed networking session. Students asked questions to learn about supply chain career opportunities in energy, healthcare, retailing, procurement and other areas and discovered what industry professionals look for when hiring for these positions.

“You have to let people know your expectations as a job seeker because not every manager is looking for what is ‘inside the box,’” Cameron Global Sourcing Manager Alison Myers said. “You have to take what skills you have learned through your education or other work experience and articulate on your résumé, or in your interview, how those skills translate to the job you want.”

Assistant Dean Jamie Belinne, who leads the college’s Rockwell Career Center, also gave an overview of what Bauer offers to both employers and students when it comes to networking and hiring.

“We have the benefit of knowing exactly what both students and employers are looking for,” Belinne said. “Our students are a bit different from other university business school students in that there are higher numbers in our data showing they want face-to-face relationships with potential employers. This is why we feel it is so important to host these networking events.”

Later in the day, the conference showcased faculty expertise with two presentations. Bauer Clinical Assistant Professor Wayne Winston shared his extensive knowledge of supply chain analytics, while UH Department of Industrial & Systems Engineering Professor E. Andrew Boyd detailed the history of intermodal shipping containers, the backbone of the global supply chain.

Attendees said they appreciated the breadth of content at the conference and all of the opportunities for industry and faculty interaction and collaboration.

“We knew that Bauer has a large talent pool that we can look to recruit from, but it’s more than just using the college as a hiring resource,” Dresser-Rand Supplier Diversity Program Manager Teena Bell said. “It’s about corporate members establishing a relationship with Bauer as we strive to attract strong human capital.”

The Bauer College supply chain program is one of the largest in the nation, with more than 600 students majoring in supply chain management at the undergraduate level, plus a strong presence at the MBA and Ph.D. program levels.